Search Results (15)

Humidification conditioning has been increasingly applied in brown rice milling to improve processing performance. However, the underlying mechanisms by which humidification alters the mechanical behavior and microstructure of the bran layer remain insufficiently understood. In this study, the effects of humidification on the mechanical properties and surface microstructure of the brown rice bran layer were investigated, and the optimal conditioning parameters were further determined based on milling performance. Brown rice samples were conditioned to different moisture levels, and the corresponding changes in bran layer tensile strength, surface roughness, and microstructural features were analyzed using tensile testing, three-dimensional surface profilometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that humidification significantly disrupts the continuity of the fibrous matrix in the bran layer, leading to reduced tensile strength and wear resistance. Moderate humidification (around 16% moisture content) promotes the formation of micro-pores and weakens structural integrity, facilitating bran removal during milling and improving head rice yield (HRY), whereas excessive humidification results in over-softening and increased kernel breakage. On this basis, a quadratic orthogonal rotatable composite design was employed to optimize the combined effects of moisture content, humidification time, and equilibration time on HRY and specific energy consumption. The optimal conditioning parameters were identified as 16% moisture content, 30 s humidification time, and 36 min equilibration time. This study provides the mechanistic insights into the humidification-induced structural and mechanical evolution of the brown rice bran layer, through experimental optimization of humidification operating parameters, offering practical guidance for improving milling quality and energy efficiency. Full article

Parboiling improves rice-milling performance and consumer acceptance; however, drying parboiled rice can be energy intensive and highly sensitive to drying conditions, making it costly for processors. High head rice yield (HRY) and whiteness index (WI) are essential for commercial value because they reduce breakage and improve visual quality. In the United States, parboiled rice is typically dried in a two-stage process using rotary drum and crossflow dryers, but the high temperature condition of rotary drums can increase energy demand and compromise rice quality. This study evaluated the drying kinetics, effective moisture diffusivity (D_eff), energy consumption, and quality for three common cultivars (CLL 18, RT 7521, and Titan) using four methods: natural air drying (NAD), two-pass hot air oven drying (OO), two-pass fluidized bed drying (FBD), and a hybrid of oven and fluidized bed method (OFBD). Moisture content (MC) was monitored during drying until 12.5% (w.b.) to understand the drying kinetics. FBD achieved the fastest drying, reducing Titan MC from 38.24% to 13.79% (w.b.) in 60 min (two passes). It also produced highest D_eff across cultivars and consumed less energy (1.6599 kWh) as compared to OFBD (1.6733 kWh) and OO (1.68 kWh). Among nine thin-layer models explored, the logarithmic model provided the best fit, and Midilli–Küçük and Verma et al. models performed better in specific cases. NAD produced a higher quality of HRY (Titan: 65.33 ± 2.07%) and WI (RT 7521: 63.99 ± 0.25) than FBD but required 7–10 days to reach the target moisture content, limiting industrial applicability. Results from this study show that drying method and rice cultivars significantly influenced parboiled rice quality, and FBD offered efficient drying without compromising parboiled rice quality. Full article

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are pivotal in the cycling of phosphorus within terrestrial ecosystems and hold great promise for sustainable agriculture. In this study, we report the isolation of HRY1—a highly efficient phosphate-solubilizing strain—identified as Escherichia coli, a bacterium not traditionally recognized for plant-beneficial traits. Under optimized conditions (glucose as carbon source, (NH₄)₂SO₄ as nitrogen source, pH 7.0, 1% inoculum, and 5 g/L Ca₃(PO₄)₂), HRY1 consistently solubilized ~16% of inorganic phosphorus, with peak activity coinciding with its stationary growth phase (14 h). Whole-genome sequencing revealed a comprehensive genetic toolkit for phosphorus mobilization, including eight genes implicated in organic acid-mediated mineral dissolution, five high-affinity phosphate transporter genes (pit and pst gene cluster), and three two-component regulatory systems responsive to phosphate starvation (e.g., phoBR). The functional integration of these systems suggests a multifaceted strategy combining acidification, active uptake, and adaptive regulation to thrive under phosphorus limitation. Our findings redefine the ecological scope of E. coli and uncover an unconventional yet potent PSB candidate with significant potential for biofertilizer development and soil phosphorus activation. This discovery reveals E. coli’s untapped potential for phosphorus solubilization, with HRY1’s novelty residing in its high efficiency under optimized conditions and its practical promise as a biofertilizer. Full article

Vibrational spectroscopy, including Raman and near-infrared techniques, enables the non-destructive evaluation of starch gelatinization, head rice yield, and aroma-active volatile compounds in parboiled rice subjected to varying soaking and drying conditions. Raman and NIR spectra were collected for rice samples processed under different conditions and integrated with reference analyses to develop and validate partial least squares regression and artificial neural network models. The optimized PLSR model demonstrated strong predictive performance, with R² values of 0.9406 and 0.9365 for SG and HRY, respectively, and residual predictive deviations of 3.98 and 3.75 using Raman effective wavelengths. ANN models reached R² values of 0.97 for both SG and HRY, with RPDs exceeding 4.2 using NIR effective wavelengths. In the aroma compound analysis, p-Cymene exhibited the highest predictive accuracy, with R² values of 0.9916 for calibration, and 0.9814 for cross-validation. Other volatiles, such as 1-Octen-3-ol, nonanal, benzaldehyde, and limonene, demonstrated high predictive reliability (R² ≥ 0.93; RPD > 3.0). Conversely, farnesene, menthol, and menthone showed poor predictability (R² < 0.15; RPD < 0.4). Principal component analysis revealed that the first principal component explained 90% of the total variance in the Raman dataset and 71% in the NIR dataset. Hotelling’s T² analysis identifies influential outliers and enhances model robustness. Optimal processing conditions for achieving maximum HRY and SG values were determined at 65 °C soaking for 180 min, followed by drying at 70 °C. This study underscores the potential of integrating vibrational spectroscopy with machine learning techniques and targeted wavelength selection for the high-throughput, accurate, and scalable quality evaluation of parboiled rice. Full article

The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) is a major pest threatening global rice production, significantly reducing yields annually. As N. lugens increasingly develops resistance to conventional control methods, such as chemical pesticides, there is an urgent need for innovative and sustainable pest management strategies. Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor 30 (CPSF30) is a key protein involved in mRNA 3′ end processing, yet its function in N. lugens remains poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the role of CPSF30 in the growth and development of N. lugens and evaluate its potential as a target for RNA interference (RNAi)-based pest control strategies. We cloned and characterized the cDNA sequence of NlCPSF30, which encodes a protein of 341 amino acids containing five CCCH zinc-finger domains and two CCHC zinc-knuckle domains. Sequence alignment revealed that NlCPSF30 is highly conserved among insect species, particularly in the zinc-finger domains essential for RNA binding and processing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that NlCPSF30 is closely related to CPSF30 proteins from other hemipteran species. Expression analysis indicated that NlCPSF30 is most highly expressed in the fat body and during the adult stage, with significantly higher expression in females than in males. RNAi-mediated silencing of NlCPSF30 in third-instar nymphs resulted in severe phenotypic abnormalities, including disrupted molting and increased mortality following injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting NlCPSF30. Moreover, it influenced the expression of genes associated with hormone regulation, namely NlHry, NlE93, and NlKr-h1. These results suggest that NlCPSF30 is integral to critical physiological processes, with its disruption leading to increased mortality. Our findings identify NlCPSF30 as an essential gene for N. lugens’ survival and a promising target for RNAi-based pest management strategies. This study provides a valuable molecular target and theoretical insights for developing RNAi-based control methods against N. lugens. Full article

Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) play a crucial role in the growth and development of various organisms. Due to the low sequence similarity compared to plants, humans, and animals, the study of pebp genes in fungi has not received significant attention. The redifferentiation of fruiting bodies is exceedingly rare in fungal development. Hitherto, only a few studies have identified the Capebp2 gene as being associated with this phenomenon in Cyclocybe aegerita. Thus, exploring the role of pebp genes in fruiting body development is imperative. In the present study, four Capebp genes (Capebp1, Capebp3, Capebp4, and Capebp5) were cloned from the AC0007 strain of C. aegerita based on genome sequencing and gene prediction. The findings indicate that the pebp family, in C. aegerita, comprises a total of five genes. Moreover, the sequence similarity was low across the five CAPEBP protein sequences in C. aegerita, and only a few conserved sequences, such as HRY and RHF, were identical. Expression analyses revealed that, similarly to Capebp2, the four Capebp genes exhibit significantly higher expression levels in the fruiting bodies than in the mycelium. Furthermore, overexpressed and RNA interference Capebp1 or Capebp5 transformants were analyzed. The results demonstrate that overexpression of Capebp1 or Capebp5 could induce the regeneration of the lamella or fruiting body, whereas the knockdown of Capebp1 or Capebp5 could lead to the accelerated aging of fruiting bodies. These findings highlight a significant role of Capebp genes in the generation of C. aegerita fruiting bodies and provide a foundation for further exploration into their involvement in basidiomycete growth and development. Full article

Precise and prompt predictions of crop yields are crucial for optimising farm management, post-harvest operations, and marketing strategies within the agricultural sector. While various machine learning approaches have been employed to forecast crop yield, their application to grain quality, particularly head rice yield (HRY), is less explored. This research collated crop-level HRY data across four seasons (2017/18–2020/21) from Australia’s rice-growing region. Models were developed using the XGBoost algorithm trained at varying time steps up to 16 weeks pre-harvest. The study compared the accuracy of models trained on datasets with climate data alone or paired with vegetative indices using two- and four-week aggregations. The results suggest that model accuracy increases as the harvest date approaches. The dataset combining climate and vegetative indices aggregated over two weeks surpassed industry benchmarks early in the season, achieving the highest accuracy two weeks before harvest (LCCC = 0.65; RMSE = 6.43). The analysis revealed that HRY correlates strongly with agroclimatic conditions nearer harvest, with the significance of vegetative indices-based features increasing as the season progresses. These features, indicative of crop and grain maturity, could aid growers in determining optimal harvest timing. This investigation offers valuable insights into grain quality forecasting, presenting a model adaptable to other regions with accessible climate and satellite data, consequently enhancing farm- and industry-level decision-making. Full article

Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) is widely involved in various physiological behaviors, such as the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth in plants, tumorigenesis in the human, etc. However, few functional studies have examined pebp genes affecting the development of fungi. In this study, Capebp2 was cloned from Cyclocybe aegerita AC0007 strains based on the genome sequence and gene prediction, and the sequence alignment of CaPEBP2 with other PEBP proteins from other biological sources including plant, animal, fungi, and bacteria indicated that PEBP had low sequence similarity in fungi, whereas all protein sequences had some conserved motifs such as DPDAP and HRY. Expression analysis showed the transcription level of Capebp2 increased approximately 20-fold in fruiting bodies compared with mycelia. To uncover the function of Capebp2 in C. aegetita development, Capebp2 was cloned into a pATH vector driven by the actin promoter for obtaining overexpression transformant lines. Fruiting experiments showed the transformed strains overexpressing Capebp2 exhibited redifferentiation of the cap on their surface, including intact fruiting bodies or partial lamella during fruiting development stage, and the longitudinal section indicated that all regenerated bodies or lamella sprouted from the flesh and shared the epidermis with the mother fruiting bodies. In summary, the sequence characterization of Capebp2, expression level during different development stages, and function on fruiting body development were documented in this study, and these findings provided a reference to study the role of pebp in the development process of basidiomycetes. Importantly, gene mining of pebp, function characterization, and the regulating pathways involved need to be uncovered in further studies. Full article

Hygrothermal simulations have become essential for sustainable and resilient building design because moisture is the major cause of problems in buildings. Appropriate meteorological input data are important to obtain meaningful simulation results. Therefore, this article reviews different methods to create Hygrothermal Reference Years (HRY) as severe or average climate inputs. The current standards define HRYs solely based on outdoor temperature, although moisture problems are caused by a combination of climate parameters, including driving rain and other loads. Therefore, there are also methods considering several impact parameters. The existing methods can be classified into two categories: construction-independent and construction-dependent methods. The former determines HRY based on a weather data analysis and is useful for large-scale parametric studies comprising many climatic parameters acting on buildings. The latter is based in addition to computer simulations to verify the HRY also in the context of specific construction types. It is a more comprehensive approach since the moisture responses of constructions are the decisive outcome for performance predictions. The advantages and disadvantages of the different methods are summarized and compared. Lastly, further research questions and simplifications aimed at practitioners are pointed out to arrive at reliable hygrothermal building performance predictions. Full article

Global warming poses a serious threat to food security because of its impacts on thermosensitive food crop production. Rice is of paramount significance due to the world’s three-billion-population dependence on it as a staple food. It is well established that the high temperatures at day or night times during the grain-filling period can reduce rice grain yield, although the intriguing impact of high temperatures on head rice yields (HRY) is poorly discussed. This is because high and stable HRY is vital to meet the demand for rice grain, which is a staple food for many developing and developed nations. Hence, identifying the novel heat-tolerant rice germplasm with higher head rice yields may help mitigate a critical problem threatening global food security resulting from climate change. This review addresses the key factors, including pre-and-post-harvest scenarios related to overall reductions in the HRY and how grain molecular composition can play a significant role in determining head rice yields. Moreover, the underlying genetics of head rice is discussed as and possible mechanism to breach the complexity of HRY before identifying the key alleles and genomic regions related to the reduction in the HRY. Future research should focus on understanding the mechanisms of tolerating heat stress in rice by combining modern statistical, physiological, and molecular techniques to increase HRY. This may include high-throughput phenotyping techniques, mapping quantitative loci affecting HRY loss processes and genomic prediction using a broad wild and cultivated rice germplasm. Full article

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two-stage variable temperature drying (VTD) on the quality and drying efficiency of paddy rice in the hot air-drying process. A constant temperature of 50 °C (CTD) was used as a control group. VTD and CTD methods were applied in a 15 ton batch type recirculating grain dryer. Three aspects (appearance quality, physical and chemical properties, taste quality) of the paddy rice samples from the dryer were measured and compared. It was observed that paddy rice with an initial moisture content of 25.3% (wet basis) was dried to 14% (wet basis). Compared to CTD, the VTD method could reduce the drying time and fissuring rate by 0.7 h and 42%, respectively. It had a head rice yield (HRY) of 78.45%, compared to 76.45% by CTD. The fatty acid content of the VTD samples was 2.28% lower than those of CTD, and it exhibited a 34% decrease in amylose content. These results show that two-stage VTD is an advanced hot air-drying method that can be used to improve the quality of dried paddy rice, maintain efficiency, and reduce the cost of the drying process by minimizing the rate of energy consumption. Full article

The effect of hybrid infrared-convective (IRC), microwave (MIC) and infrared-convective-microwave (IRCM) drying methods on thermodynamic (drying kinetics, effective moisture diffusivity coefficient (D_eff), specific energy consumption (SEC)) and quality (head rice yield (HRY), color value and lightness) characteristics of parboiled rice samples were investigated in this study. Experimental data were fitted into empirical drying models to explain moisture ratio (MR) variations during drying. The Artificial Neural Network (ANN) method was applied to predict MR. The IRCM method provided shorter drying time (reduce percentage = 71%) than IRC (41%) and microwave (69%) methods. The D_eff of MIC drying (6.85 × 10⁻¹¹–4.32 × 10⁻¹⁰ m²/s) was found to be more than the observed in IRC (1.32 × 10⁻¹⁰–1.87 × 10⁻¹⁰ m²/s) and IRCM methods (1.58 × 10⁻¹¹–2.31 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s). SEC decreased during drying. Microwave drying had the lowest SEC (0.457 MJ/kg) compared to other drying methods (with mean 28 MJ/kg). Aghbashlo’s model was found to be the best for MR prediction. According to the ANN results, the highest determination coefficient (R²) values for MR prediction in IRC, IRCM and MIC drying methods were 0.9993, 0.9995 and 0.9990, respectively. The HRY (from 60.2 to 74.07%) and the color value (from 18.08 to 19.63) increased with the drying process severity, thereby decreasing the lightness (from 57.74 to 62.17). The results of this research can be recommended for the selection of the best dryer for parboiled paddy. Best drying conditions in the study is related to the lowest dryer SEC and sample color value and the highest HRY and sample lightness. Full article

Rice is generally consumed in the form of milled rice. The yield of total milled rice and head mill rice is affected by both the paddy rice yield and milling efficiency. In this study, three recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations and one F_4:5 population derived from a residual heterozygous (RH) plant were used to determine quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting milling yield of rice. Seven traits were analyzed, including recovery of brown rice (BR), milled rice (MR) and head rice (HR); grain yield (GY); and the yield of brown rice (BRY), milled rice (MRY) and head rice (HRY). A total of 77 QTLs distributed on 35 regions was detected in the three RIL populations. Four regions, where qBR5, qBR7, qBR10, and qBR12 were located, were validated in the RH-derived F_4:5 population. In the three RIL populations, all the 11 QTLs for GY detected were accompanied with QTLs for two or all the three milling yield traits. Not only the allele direction for milling yield traits was unchanged, but also the effects were consistent with GY. In the RH-derived F_4:5 population, regions controlling GY also affected all three milling yield traits. Results indicated that variations of BRY and MRY were mainly ascribed to GY, but HRY was determined by both GY and HR. Results also showed that the regions covering GW5–Chalk5 and Wx loci had major effects on milling quality and milling yield of rice. These two regions, which have been known to affect multiple traits determining grain quality and yield of rice, provide good candidates for milled yield improvement. Full article

Several of the rice quality parameters are nowadays determined manually or partly manually, which leads to subjective results. In order to analyse the rice quality and avoid most of the manual handling, the PaddyCheck instrument was mainly developed to measure the paddy/rough rice kernels. However, the design and technique of the instrument are also suitable for brown rice kernels. The PaddyCheck instrument measures the physical properties of the rice kernels as well as texture properties and translucency. Initial calibrations have been developed to correlate these properties with the Head Rice Yield and Chalkiness, which are two of the most common and important quality parameters for rice. Full article

Diamide insecticides with high efficacy against pests and good environmental safety are broadly applied in crop protection. They act at a poorly-defined site in the very complex ryanodine (Ry) receptor (RyR) potentially accessible to a fluorescent probe. Two N-propynyl analogs of the major anthranilic diamide insecticides chlorantraniliprole (Chlo) and cyantraniliprole (Cyan) were accordingly synthesized and converted into two fluorescent ligands by click reaction coupling with 3-azido-7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one. The new diamide analogs and fluorescent ligands were shown to be nearly as potent as Chlo and Cyan in inhibition of [³H]Chlo binding and stimulation of [³H]Ry binding in house fly thoracic muscle RyR. Although the newly synthesized compounds had only moderate activity in insect larvicidal activity assays, their high in vitro potency in a validated insect RyR binding assay encourages further development of fluorescent probes for insect RyRs. Full article